The US Secret Service announced that its agents, in cooperation with local police in Florida, shot and killed an armed man on Sunday after he breached a secure area at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the man, who appeared to be in his early 20s, was carrying what appeared to be a rifle and a gas can. He was seen at the northern gate of the resort around 1:30 a.m. ET (0630 GMT).

Guglielmi added that the man's family had reported him missing days earlier, and investigators believe he headed south and obtained the rifle along the way, according to the Associated Press.

Guglielmi noted that the rifle case was found inside the man's vehicle after the incident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. ET (0630 GMT).

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed in a post on X that the bureau would dedicate 'all necessary resources' to the investigation.

The FBI said in a previous statement that President Trump was not in Florida at the time of the incident, adding: 'We will continue to work the scene to gather evidence.'

US media reported that the suspect in the attempted breach of Trump's resort is named Austin Tucker Martin, 21.

White House comments on incident

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X: 'In the middle of the night, while most Americans were sleeping, the US Secret Service acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazed individual, armed with a gun and a gas can, who broke into President Trump's home.'

She added: 'Federal law enforcement agencies work around the clock to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It is shameful and reckless that Democrats choose to shut down their department.'

Authorities urged residents near the shooting scene to review their outdoor surveillance cameras and report any suspicious activity immediately.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said in a press conference that two US Secret Service agents and a sheriff's deputy confronted the man and ordered him to drop the rifle and the fuel can.

Bradshaw added that the man dropped the gas can and raised the rifle 'in a shooting and firing position,' prompting security forces to open fire.

Sources confirmed that no law enforcement officers were injured in the incident, and that the agents involved would be placed on administrative leave during the investigation 'per agency policy,' according to a Secret Service statement.

The White House referred all inquiries to the Secret Service and the FBI.

Sharp rise in political violence

The United States is facing a sharp rise in political violence. In 2024, Trump survived two assassination attempts, including one at his golf course in West Palm Beach.

In the golf course incident, a Secret Service agent spotted a man named Ryan Routh aiming his rifle through trees before Trump appeared. The agent fired, causing Routh to drop his weapon. Routh was convicted last year and sentenced this month to life in prison.

Trump also survived another assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a shooter fired eight rounds before being killed by a Secret Service sniper.

Other incidents of political violence recorded last year include the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the killing of a Democratic state representative from Minnesota and her husband, the shooting of another state representative and his wife, and an arson attack on the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, according to the Associated Press.

In a separate incident five days earlier, a man armed with a hunting rifle was arrested in Georgia as he ran toward the west side of the US Capitol building.